Description

The Char léger modèle 1935 H (Hotchkiss light tank model 1935) is a rank I French light tank
with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.75 "La Résistance". The H.35 was removed from its reserve status and hidden from the main tech tree during Update 1.85 "Supersonic" after the ammo update, though it is still unlockable after reaching rank II French ground vehicles. During its session in the main tree, it was arguably the worst reserve vehicle in War Thunder.

Combining a 17 years old gun from WWI, average armour, and a sub-par engine sounds like a bad tank design, right? Well someone did it anyways.

General info

Survivability and armour

The armour is decent and it will protect you from incoming long-range shots... but nothing more than that. At close ranges, anything bigger than HMG fire can shred your tank very easily. If you're lucky enough to survive a shot, retreat and ask your allies for help.

Mobility

With its low speed, don't even dream of bold flanking manœuvres, you must rely on road and downhills in order to achieve a decent speed. Climbing hills and turning on the spot are also hard thing to achieve while driving this vehicle. The only thing "light" about this tank is the weight.

Mobility characteristic

Weight (tons)

Add-on Armorweight (tons)

Max speed (km/h)

10.6

N/A

31 (AB)

28 (RB/SB)

Engine power (horsepower)

Mode

Stock

Upgraded

Arcade

90

100

Realistic/Simulator

71

75

Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)

Mode

Stock

Upgraded

Arcade

8.49

9.43

Realistic/Simulator

6.70

7.07

Armaments

Main armament

With only 36 mm of penetration, poor post-penetration damage and a long reload time, this tank's main gun is the main failing of the H.35. With -13° of depression, it is actually a very depressing gun to shoot in a figurative and literal sense.

Machine guns

Usage in battles

Playing the H.35 is a hard task. Having such a bad gun, it cannot reliably engage a fight without getting the first shot off; hence, one must stick with its teammates in order to survive an encounter. Never drag attention on yourself since anything bigger than HMG fire will shred you at normal combat ranges (~500 m).

Tactics

Hull down:

Since your turret armour is decent, a good way to use this tank can be to hide the hull behind a rock, an hill or any shell-proof prop and wait for the enemy to fall in your sights. This way, you will either be able to shoot at their weak side or have enough time to aim before they can react to your presence. Ensure yourself to pick a spot near a choke-point such as a capture point or a popular main road.

"Brawling":

In urban maps, narrow streets and crossroad allows for many flanking and close-quarter action: follow your team, always cover behind allied vehicles and don't bother stealing a score from them since it's about the only good shots you will get on an enemy with such a poor vehicle.

Fleeing:

Turn your back to the enemy and use your engine deck as a shield for the crew. Use this tactic anytime you are left alone and go find yourself another teammate. Don't use your reverse speed since it's too low : turn back and flee, your armour is as thick as on the front of your tank. Never stop to try a shot since your pursuers have a way better gun than yours.

Pros and cons

Pros:

Decent armour for its BR (at distances).

Good depression of -13°.

Tiny target.

Thick and sloped turret makes good hull-down position.

Coaxial MAC 31 MG.

Cons:

Arguably the worst beginner ground vehicle: very frustrating to play.

It has the worst APCR-shot in the entire game.

APCR deals only punctual damage: unable to one-shot anything but other French light tanks.

Reload speed is a little on the slow side for the caliber.

Not very mobile for a light tank.

Tracks are narrow, offering poor cross-country capability.

HP/ton ratio is unsatisfying (8.49 HP/ton).

Only two crew member allows for no survivability, and barely so with crew replenishment.

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === Encyclopedia Info ===, also if applicable).

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example: